Floatable washcloth

ABSTRACT

A layer of terry material has superimposed upon one side thereof a layer of fluid-impermeable synthetic plastic sheet material covering at least a portion of this one side. A layer of resiliently compressible spacing material is superimposed upon the sheet material and an additional layer of fluid-impermeable synthetic plastic sheet material is superimposed upon the spacing material and is adhered across the intervening layers to the terry cloth along at least one circumferentially complete annular zone inwardly of the edges of the layer of spacing material and the layers of synthetic plastic material, so that the terry cloth is provided with a three-dimensional resilient applique which constitutes at least within the confines of the aforementioned zone a flotation aid for the washcloth so that the same will float in liquid.

O United States Patent 11 1 3,661,690 Taranto [4 1 May 9, 1972 541 FLOATABLE WASHCLOTH 2,681,321 6/1954 Stastny et a1 ..46/91 x 2,779,062 1/1957 Stastny ..46/91 X [72] Inventor: Michael A. Taranto, 93 Van Horn St., 4 l 9 Demerest NJ'O7627 2,7 5,28 5/1 56 Zeuner 15/227- 22 Ffl d; May 11 1970 Primary Examiner.lohn T. Goolkasian Assistant Examiner-Joseph C. Gil 1 1 pp 36,088 Attorney-Michael s. Striker 52 us. c1. ..l61/39, 15/209 R, 15/118, [57] ABSTRACT 15/227, 26/69, 46/91, 139/396, 161/97, l61/l59, A layer of terry material has superimposed upon one side 161/160 thereof a layer of fluid-impermeable synthetic plastic sheet [51 Int. Cl. ..B32b 3/02, A47k 7/02 material covering at least a portion of this one side. A layer of [58] Field of Search ..16l/39, 40, 97, 61, 159-161; resiliently compressible spacing material is superimposed 15/208,209 11,226,210 R,227, 113; 186/13; upon the sheet material and an additional layer'of fluid-im- 26/69; 139/396; 46/9l, 92 permeable synthetic plastic sheet material is superimposed upon the spacing material and is adhered across the interven- [56 References Ci ing layers to the terry cloth along at least one circumferentially complete annular zone inwardly of the edges of the UNITED STATES PATENTS layer of spacing material and the layers of synthetic plastic material, so that the terry cloth is provided with a threel,873,503 8/1932 Stewart ..15/209 X dimensional resilient applique which constitutes at least within 2,729,010 Markus CI 8i. X the confines Ofthe aforementioned zone a fl i f the 2,729,009 1/1956 Markus et a1. .....l washcloth so that the same will float in liquid. 2,956,310 10/1960 Roop et al. ..l8/57 3,503,838 3/1970 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Marshack ..l61/l61 X Patented May 9, 1972 3,661,690

A INVENTOR un. A .TARmo v mum ATTORNEY FLOATABLE WASI-ICLOTH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION doing so by the aid of a decorative three-dimensional resilient applique which not only serves decorative but also functional purposes.

Washcloths, particularly those used by or for small children and also by some handicapped adults, frequently present the problem when they sink to the bottom of the bathtub. Small children lack the coordination to retrieve the washcloth which is only seen dimly in the water. Adults, having certain physical handicaps, may be in the same position, namely unable to retrieve the washcloth. On the other hand, if a small child is being bathed by its mother or an adult helper, it is at the very least an inconvenience to retrieve the washcloth when it sinks to the bottom of the tub because the adult must usually at the same time cope with the child, frequently holding it so that it will not fall or will not become submerged in the water.

It is therefore desirable to provide a washcloth which is not possessed of these disadvantages, and which will float in water. At the same time, however, the washcloth should also have a decorative appearance. With the floating aid which supports the washcloth in water against sinking, itself constituting the decoration so that the utilitarian appearance of a plain washcloth provided with a purely functional floatation aid is avoided and, in the case of children, bathtime is made a more readily accepted and pleasant occurrence because of the interest of the child being drawn by the decoration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a floatable washcloth.

Still more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floatable washcloth which has a three-dimensional resilient applique provided thereon which applique at the same time is not only a decoration but also constitutes a floatation aid keeping the washcloth afloat.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, my invention resides, briefly stated, in a floatable washcloth which comprises a first layer of fluid-permeable textile material having an exposed side. A second layer of fluid-impermeable flexible sheet material is superimposed upon at least a portion of this side. A third layer of resiliently compressible spacing material is superimposed upon the second layer, and at least one fourth layer of fluidimpermeable flexible sheet material overlies the third layer. At least one of the second through fourth layers is latently adhesive and the four layer is adhered to the first layer across the second and third layers along at least one circumferentially complete annular zone, inwardly of the edges of the second through fourth layers, whereby the first layer is provided on the one side with a three-dimensional resilient applique which constitutes at least within the confines of the aforementioned zone a floatation aid for the washcloth so that the same will float in liquid.

Different types of materials are, of course, suitable for the different layers. Thus, the basic material of the washcloth, that is the first layer, is preferably and in known manner, constituted by terry cloth, although other materials may of course also find use. The second layer must be fluid-impermeable and is a synthetic plastic material, such as vinyl, although a different synthetic material may also find use. The resiliently compressible spacing material is preferably a synthetic plastic foam material, and similarly the fourth layer must be'fluiddmpermeable and is a layer of synthetic plastic material, again vinyl or one of the other synthetics which are suitable for such purposes. Such materials as vinyl or the aforementioned synthetic plastic foam materials are heat bondable and therefore latently adhesive, so that when they are contacted with a heated die and at the same time pressed against one another and the first layer of the textile material, the fourthlayer will become bonded or adhered to the first layer across the intervening second and third layers.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a somewhat diagrammatic top-plan view of a washcloth, according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the lineII-II of FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION 'OF THE PREF ERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, itwill be seen that in FIG. 1 I have illustrated and generally identified with reference numeral 1 a floatable washcloth according to the present invention. It has a first or base layer 2 of fluid-permeable textile material, preferably, but not necessarily, a conventional terry cloth. Reference numeral 3 identifies a border which may be of diflerent material or of different color than the layer 2, and which may of course be omitted. If the layer 2 is cut out of a larger sheet, then it is customary to provide the border 3 as an edging to prevent unravelling of the material of the layer 2. Reference numeral 4 identifies a loop which may or may not be provided so that the cloth can behung up when not in use.

The washcloth l'which I have illustrated'is provided with a three-dimensional resilient applique which at the same time constitutes a floatation aid. The applique, identified with reference numeral 5, is here shown in form of a moon sickle, although, of course, any other configuration'or appearance may be chosen. In fact, more than-one applique may be provided,'or the applique may have different parts spaced from one another, for instance, the applique may be in form of a bouquet of flowers with the individual flowers spaced from one another.

In any case, the applique is composed of the layers 6,7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 2. The layer 6 is a layer of fluid-impermeable flexible sheet material, that is synthetic plastic material, superimposed upon one side of the terry cloth layer 2. Placed upon the exposed side of the layer 6, is a layer 7 of open-celled or closed-celled resiliently compressible synthetic plastic foam material. It is pointed out, however, that other spacing materials, for instance fibrous sliver, dacron or the like, are also suitable for the purpose. Essential is that the layer 7 entraps air. Placed upon the layer 7, is a further or fourth layen'also consisting of fluid-impermeable flexible synthetic plasticsheet material, as illustrated. Any or all of the layers 6, 7 or 8 are of thermoplastic materiaLand'they are afiixed to the layer 2 by superimposing them in the order shown in FIG. 2, and by engaging them from above -that is in the direction from the layer 8 towards the layer 2- under pressure with a die having a projecting edge which is heated and which has a continuous contour corresponding to the'outer contour of the desired applique. In other words, in FIG. 1, th'e'co'ntour of the heated projecting edge of the die (not illustrated) would correspond to the broken line 9 shown in FIG. 1. Outwardly of this edge, there is provided an edge which projects slightly farther still than the heated edge and is provided with a knife edge, and when the die is pressed into contact withthe layer 8, the knife edge will sever the layers '6, 7 and 8 outwardly of the line 9, while along the line 9 (see also FIG. '2) the layers 6, 7 and 8 are compressed against one another and against the terry cloth layer 2 for this purpose there must of course be provided a support for the layer 2 while the affixing of the applique takes placeand under the influence of heat, the material of any or all of the layers 6, 7 and 8 melts along the line 9, and the layers adhere to one another and also'to the terry cloth layer 2. The

bondestablished along the zone 9 isfluid-tight, and because of the layers 6 and 8, no fluid access to or can escape from the layer 7, so that in effect there is provided a pocket which makes the washcloth 1 floatable in liquid. Naturally, within the confines of the zone 9, the layers 6, 7 and 8 may also be adhered to one another and to the layer 2, as for instance indicated by the mouth and the eye shown in the applique of course that the applique is of a size sufi'icient with reference to the overall size of the terry cloth layer 2- to support the 'weight of the latter.

Of course, a wide range of possibilities exist with reference to color combinations, printing different matter on the layer 8 whether on the exposed or on the concealed side in case the layer 8 is transparent or translucentmaking the layer 8 transparent or translucent and creating color effects by using various colors for the layer 7, providing printed matter on the layer 7 and having it visible through a transparent or translucent layer 8, or any of different possibilities.

' A washcloth according to the present invention and provided with the applique 5 thus not only will float in water, but

the applique will clearly provide interest, for instance for a child, and at the same time, the decorative quality of the applique conceals the utilitarian purpose of constituting a floatation aid.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above,-or two, or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

v the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended 1. A floatable washcloth comprising, in combination, a, terry cloth like washcloth of fluid-permeable textile material having an exposed side; and resiliently yieldable three-dimensional floatation aid means provided on said exposed side, in cluding a first layer of fluid-impermeable flexible sheet material superimposed upon a fractional portion of said side, a second layer of resiliently compressible spacing material superimposed upon said first layer, and at least one third layer of fluid-impermeable: flexible sheet material overlying said second layer, at least one of said first through third layers being latently adhesive and said third layer being adhered to said washcloth across said first and second layers along at least one circumferentially complete annular zone of reduced thickness, inwardly of the edges of said first through third layers whereby said washcloth is provided on said one side with a three-dimensional resilient applique which constitutes at least within the confines of said zone said floatation aid means for said washcloth so that the same will float in liquid.

2. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said washcloth is terry cloth.

3. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and third layers consist at least predominantly of synthetic plastic material.

4. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said 

2. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said washcloth is terry cloth.
 3. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and third layers consist at least predominantly of synthetic plastic material.
 4. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said second layer is synthetic plastic foam material.
 5. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said third layer is provided with a pictorial representation visible to a viewer.
 6. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, said third layer also being adhered to said washcloth across said first and second layers at selected zones within the confines of said annular zone.
 7. A floatable washcloth as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and third layers are vinyl material. 